Sanchez reportedly fit to face Argentina despite ankle complaint

Sanchez reportedly fit to face Argentina despite ankle complaint

The Arsenal star had been forced off during their defeat at the weekend, but he has travelled to Santiago and could feature on Thursday

Chile may have received a boost ahead of their crunch World Cup qualifying match against Argentina, with Alexis Sanchez reportedly fit to play.

The star striker scored in Arsenal's 3-1 Premier League defeat to West Brom on Saturday but had to be substitutedin the second half after finding himself on the wrong end of a heavy James McClean tackle.

Gunners manager Arsene Wenger delivered a grim initial prognosis, claiming the forward's ankle had been left in an "absolutely terrible state".

Copa America holders Chile occupy the fourth and final automatic qualifying spot in the CONMEBOL group.

Argentina are a point below them in fifth place, a berth which would require the mighty Albiceleste, beaten finalists against Germany at the previous World Cup in Brazil in 2014, to suffer the indignity of negotiating the inter-confederation play-offs if they are to reach the finals in Russia next year.